Was the missile test at Vandenberg Air Force Base meant to send a message?

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Podcasts Take Two

May 3, 2017

Listen • 6:28

Was the missile test at Vandenberg Air Force Base meant to send a message?

Officials say the test of the ballistic missile has been scheduled for months, but it comes at a particularly tense time for relations between the U.S. and North Korea.

The US tests a Minuteman III missile on Wednesday, May 3rd 2017

Officials say the test of the ballistic missile has been scheduled for months, but it comes at a particularly tense time for relations between the U.S. and North Korea.

Shortly after midnight Wednesday, the US conducted their second missile test in the past week, launching an unarmed Minuteman III missile from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Officials say the test has been planned for months. Even so, it comes at a tense time for the US, as longtime adversary North Korea continues to test missiles of their own.

Was the Wednesday morning launch simply a test or was it intended to send a message to the hermit country?

Take Two put this question to Kevin Baron, executive editor for Defense One.

Press the blue play button above to hear the full interview.